Centre County jury announces verdict in trial of Penns Valley man accused of child rape
A Centre County man was convicted Wednesday of raping a young girl in a case prosecutors said was built on her bravery and courage to come forward with the allegations.
Vladimir Y. Slavskiy, 36, of Penn Township, was found guilty by a Centre County jury of three felony counts of child rape and one felony count of statutory sexual assault at the end of a three-day trial. Six women and six men deliberated for more than four hours before they announced their verdict.
Slavskiy was also found not guilty of two felony counts of child rape, both of which were alleged to have occurred in Erie County. He had no visible reaction when the jury foreperson read the verdict aloud.
“I don’t think it’s really possible to understand how any one individual goes through these experiences and deals with these experiences,” Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Joshua Andrews said after the verdict. “It’s so unique to them and it’s so driven by their assailant, the person who is doing this to them.
“It took years for (the girl) to find her voice. It took years for (the girl) to feel secure and supported enough to come forward. And then going through this whole process every time she had to be asked to do it, to relive these experiences, to talk to a new room of people with these experiences — I don’t know that anyone from the outside looking in can truly appreciate the toll that takes on a child.”
The teenager told jurors Slavskiy groomed and sexually abused her for years in various locations, both in Centre and Erie counties. He was arrested in May by state police at Rockview.
In her closing argument Wednesday, Centre County Assistant District Attorney Julia Lockman said Slavskiy was calculated and deliberate in grooming the child over several years.
During an hourslong interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Centre County, the child described Slavskiy as mean, aggressive and manipulative — someone who would get mad at the “littlest things.”
“He most definitely has anger issues,” she told CAC Executive Director Kimberly Saltsman. “... When he gets mad, he will do anything that comes to his mind.”
The child also told Saltsman she hated the abuse. “It felt horrible. I cried,” she said during the interview.
Early outreach victim advocate Liz Rosenberg said the child was “relieved” with the verdict. She also said it represents the next chapter in the child processing where she has been and what comes next.
“We couldn’t be prouder of how she stood up for herself and gave voice to her experience so that she could be heard and that justice could be served,” Andrews said.
Centre County First Assistant Public Defender Lora Rupert used her closing argument Wednesday to tell jurors there was “no real investigation in this case.” She also said the child was asked leading and suggestive questions as opposed to those that were open-ended.
It was not immediately clear if she plans to appeal.
Prosecutors have not yet determined how lengthy of sentence they will recommend to Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine, Andrews said. Slavskiy is to be sentenced April 29. He was led away from the courthouse in handcuffs and is incarcerated at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
“It’s important for victims, survivors — whatever label they choose to go by — to know that there are people out there that support them and believe in them,” Centre County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Stover said. “... If someone comes forward, at least in Centre County, it will be investigated, it will be looked at and it will go through the process.
“People should not be afraid to come forward because there are people out there that will support them and believe them.”
This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM.